During a visit to an elementary schoolyard in Tacoma, WA today, White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory outlined the Biden administration’s commitment to reducing inequitable access to parks and green spaces as part of the initiative to conserve at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.
CEQ noted that the schoolyard is part of a six-site pilot green schoolyards program in Tacoma that will offer a “safe, nature-rich, close-to-home green space,” with Mallory stating that “we must take steps to create safe outdoor opportunities in nature-deprived communities, while increasing outdoor recreation access,” saying that the Tacoma project “embod[ies] the principles of the America the Beautiful initiative” and is an example “of the types of partnerships we need to increase green spaces in a just and equitable way for all.”
During her trip to Washington State, Mallory also conducted a roundtable discussion with tribal leaders, where among other things she highlighted the 30×30 initiative and the importance of improved engagement with tribal and indigenous communities regarding the care and management of public lands and waters. According to CEQ, tribal leaders convened “concerns about fish populations” in addition to stressing the importance of a healthy environment and highlighting restoration and conservation priorities.
